CHAPTER IV. 

 The Wheat Midge (Cecidomyia trilici). 



Origin of the Wheat Midge, 133. — Destructiveness in Vermont, &c., in 18S2, 134.— 

 The Wheat Midge an importation, 135.— Destructive in Scotland in 1740, 136. — 

 History of the progress of the Midge in Western Vermont, Ohio (?) Lower 

 Canada, New York, Maine, Michigan, Pensylvania. Western Canada, Saguenay, 

 L.C., from 1830, 1856, 137.— Description of the Midge, 145.— The clear winged 

 Wheat Midge, 146.— The Female, 146.— The Male, 146 (a).— The spotted-winged 

 AHieat Midge, 147, 148.— Habits of the Midge, 149.— Eggs deposited, 150.— 

 Young hatched, 152.— Figure of Maggot, 152.— A peculiarity in the 3Iaggot, 

 153.— Multitudes of these Maggots in ' screenings,' 154. — Differences in the 

 Habits of Individuals, 155. — Mr. Principal Dawson's experiments, 159.— Dr. 

 Fitch's observations, 157.— Mr. D. J. Browne's observations, 157.— Apparent 

 periodicity in the Habits of the Jlidge, 158.— Prevalent in particular years' 

 158.— Dr- Fitch's opinion, 159.— Influence of season on the Midge, 160.— Reme- 

 dial Measures, 161.— Smoking the Flies ; Sowing lime or ashes ; Early Sowing 

 of Winter Wheat , Late Sowing of Spring Wheat ; Fumigating with Sulphur ; 

 Fly-proof wheats, so called ; Turkish Flint Wheat ; Burning of Orpimeut ; 

 Fife Wheat, 161.— Sound practical suggestions, 162.— Suggestions of Mr. Hut- 

 ton, 163.— Change of seed, 163 (a).— Remedial Measures suggested by a study 

 of the Habits of the Midge, 163(b), 163(c), 163(d), 163(e), 163(f).— Its Patasites, 

 164.— European Parasites, 165.— Swallows, 166.— Yellow Birds, 167. 



Origin of the Wheat Midge. 



133. This destructive insect has long been known in Europe, 

 and during the latter half of the past century it attracted general 

 attention on account of the ravages it committed in various parts 

 of Great Britain. Simultaneous with its appearance in America 

 in the northern part of Vermont in 1828, it occasioned great 

 havoc in Scotland and England, creating universal alarm in many 

 of the best wheat growing districts of those countries. 



134. In 1828 the ravages of the wheat midge in Northern 

 Vermont became so general as to cause serious apprehensions for 

 the wheat crop. In 1829 these fears were confirmed by the ap- 

 pearance of the fly in such countless numbers as to threaten the 



